Latin America offers some excellent opportunities for exploring and wildlife viewing, whilst staying on board a yacht or ship. In Ecuador cruising around the Galapagos is the best way to visit these unique islands. Whether you are looking for a smaller vessel, a sailboat, a catamaran or a larger boat with more facilities, there is plenty of choice in the Galapagos. In Patagonia you can sail through the southern fjords between Punta Arenas, Chile and Ushuaia, Argentina. The boats are large and comfortable, perfect for when you are in more open water, yet they are small enough to navigate smaller channels. Cruises to Antarctica, the wild and pristine frontier, depart from the southern tip of the continent, and range from 10 to 20 days, offering dramatic landscapes and wonderful wildlife. Crossing the Drake Passage is a must for some! An alternative to staying in an Amazon jungle lodge is a river cruise, possible in either Peru or Brazil. Exploring the Amazon by boat often means you can reach further afield than if you are based in a lodge for a few nights.

Best time

Year-round in the Galapagos; November to March in Patagonia and Antarctica; March to November in Peru; and year-round in Brazil.

Fly direct to the peninsula and cruise between the western coast and the South Shetland Islands.

The trip to the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica was exceptional, truly the holiday of a lifetime, and confirmed, for us at least, that going by small ship was exactly the right way to see these places. - NM

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